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readaloud_mom's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In this third installment of the series, Lina is excited for the class trip to an aquarium - and NOT excited to have her cousin Jack come visit from the South Pole.
Random plot summary, because I want to feel productive but don't have the executive function today to write a proper review: Shouty Granddad has decided that cousin Jack, who is a Winterheart with ice magic like Lina, will be a perfect teacher for her. Lina and Jack haven't seen each other since they were small, and she isn't sure what to expect - and her friend Claudia's talk about how cousins are trouble isn't helping.
When Jack arrives, Lina thinks that he is too perfect. Obnoxiously good at winter magic. Too charming with her parents. Then when he visits her school, he's too friendly with her friends!
Finally, at the aquarium, her jealousy gets out of hand; at the penguin exhibit, Lina and Jack get into a reckless winter-magic competition which nearly freezes the whole aquarium. But fortunately, Lina, Jack, and Claudia find a way to work together and get things back under control before any fish are frozen.
Lina finds out that Jack has been trying so hard to be perfect because he really wants to be invited back again; living at the South Pole without other kids is lonely. So the cousins enjoy their last day together; then Jack explains to Granddad that he's learned so much from Lina, while Lina explains that they need many more lessons together. So Jack is asked to come back again soon, because, as the book concludes "Us Winterhearts have to stick together".
Oh, and for adults wanting to plan ahead: the science project at the end of the book calls for ice water and vegetable shortening (to test how blubber works).
Random plot summary, because I want to feel productive but don't have the executive function today to write a proper review:
When Jack arrives, Lina thinks that he is too perfect. Obnoxiously good at winter magic. Too charming with her parents. Then when he visits her school, he's too friendly with her friends!
Finally, at the aquarium, her jealousy gets out of hand; at the penguin exhibit, Lina and Jack get into a reckless winter-magic competition which nearly freezes the whole aquarium. But fortunately, Lina, Jack, and Claudia find a way to work together and get things back under control before any fish are frozen.
Lina finds out that Jack has been trying so hard to be perfect because he really wants to be invited back again; living at the South Pole without other kids is lonely. So the cousins enjoy their last day together; then Jack explains to Granddad that he's learned so much from Lina, while Lina explains that they need many more lessons together. So Jack is asked to come back again soon, because, as the book concludes "Us Winterhearts have to stick together".
Oh, and for adults wanting to plan ahead: the science project at the end of the book calls for ice water and vegetable shortening (to test how blubber works).
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